Adobe Acrobat 7.0

PDF Forms: Inserting an Automatic Date Field

You may want the date a user completes a form to display on a PDF form. You can insert a text field in your PDF form that will automatically insert the current date. The field uses a simple JavaScript at the document level. This document explains how to insert an automatic date field.

Open the PDF form you would like to add a date to
From the Tools menu, select Advanced Editing » Show Forms Toolbar
The Forms toolbar appears.
Click TEXT FIELD TOOL
Position the cursor where you want the form field to begin
Click and drag the mouse until the form field is of desired size
Release the mouse button
The Text Field Properties dialog box appears.
On the General tab
1. In the Name text box, type Today
2. In the Common Properties section, select Read Only
  NOTES:
  It is selected when a check appears in the box next to it.
  This is necessary for calculated fields such as a date.
On the Format tab
1. From the Select format category pull-down list, select Date
2. From the Date Options scroll box, select a date format option
  NOTE: This representation of the date format will be used when adding the JavaScript. An example of the date format is shown below the list.
On the Calculate tab
1. Select Custom calculation script
2. Click EDIT...
  The JavaScript Editor dialog box appears.
3. Type the text shown here:
  var f = this.getField("Today");
  f.value = util.printd("mmm/d/yyyy", new Date());
  NOTE: The date format must match the format you selected in step 8.
4. Click OK
Click CLOSE